Surely you all know by now that Bengaluru has been chosen to manufactures iPhones in India. After a long spate of tussle with the Indian government, Apple has finally managed to clear a lot of red-tape and is ready to start production in the Karnataka capital.
However, what made Apple choose Bengaluru over Delhi/Noida, or Mumbai/Pune, or any of the dozens of manufacturing hubs around the country? While on the outside the choice might seem arbitrary, there’s actually a combination of reasons that has made Apple pick Bengaluru as the first that will manufacture iPhones in India.
Best Startup Culture
According to a recent report by the Huffington Post, “Bangalore is world’s 2nd fastest growing startup ecosystem,” and it “has youngest [set of] entrepreneurs in the world.”
Not only that, even in terms of attracting investment, Bengaluru seems to be a favorite. The report pointed out that the city is “the seventh largest investment destination in the world.”
The Mindset
The Karnataka capital also enjoys a unique mix of “Leaders, Emergents, and Aspirants” — the three main components needed for a robust and sustainable growth.
Firstpost quoted an entrepreneur who compared the mindset here to Silicon Valley.
“I find this space more exciting. I find the energy and the sheer number of people starting up here are far more [than the Valley].”
As you can see, Bengaluru is ahead of Delhi-NCR, both of which are miles ahead Mumbai. This unique blend of people has enabled Bengaluru enjoy an unprecedented ease of doing business.
Supportive Government
The Karnataka government has been instrumental in the rise of Bengaluru as India’s largest startup hub.
According to the 2016 Startup Report by Nasscom, the “Karnataka Government is leading the wave of Indian start-up ecosystem.”
Favourable policies, subsidies for new-comers, preference for small business owners, and a host of other initiatives by the government has really boosted the tech growth in the region, with Bengaluru being the focal point.
So, now you know why Apple has been favouring the south, and more importantly, why Bengaluru has been chosen to set up the manufacturing unit for iPhones in India.